One method of making a wasp trap is to cut and overturn the neck portion of a plastic bottle into the body of the bottle, then bait the trap with sugar and soap (or other attractive bait) before hanging it up.

Wasps trapped inside should find it too tough to get out. If that’s not enough, coating the opening with oil can make it even more difficult for them if an uncoated opening doesn't seem to work well enough.

Step 1

Find a plastic bottle (we’re sure you have loads) and cut the neck off (the neck is the cone part of the bottle including the cap).

Step 2

Flip the neck upside-down, removing the cap first, and place the neck into the bottle

Step 3

Staple or tape the top of the bottle together or drill a couple of holes and keep them together by two screws, which you can even use to hang it up.

When doing this, it’s worth keeping in mind that you will need to take them apart often to switch out the bait and remove dead wasps.

Wasps

Step 4

Bait the trap. The bait should not reach the opening of the bottle - the wasps should have to completely get into the trap in order to access the bait.

You can also do this before you attach the two pieces together. Some bait ideas include:

• Meat - we hear that this is the best choice in the spring and late winter because wasps are making nests and laying eggs, so they're searching for high protein food. If you're feeling particularly daring, you may even catch a queen this way, in which case the wasps will relocate their nest.

• Dishwasher liquid and water

• Mashed grapes

• Sugar and lemon juice

• Kokanee beer or coolers

• Sugar and water

• Sugar and vinegar

• 1 tsp liquid laundry soap, 1 tsp sugar (to attract them), and water - if they do get out, they will still die from the laundry soap

• Soda (lemonade, etc.) that has lost its fizz. This way it can still be of use. Add a few drops of washing up liquid to help break the surface tension of the soda.

(Image: EHStock)

Step 5

(This step is optional) Tape some string to the bottle, (or make holes and put the string through) and hang it up in an area with many wasps.

• Once the wasps go in they can't figure out how to get out, so they get trapped.

• Adding petroleum jelly or cooking oilalong the steep edges of the trap can cause them to lose their footing and fall into the hole.

Step 6

Empty the trap regularly. Be sure the wasps are dead before removing them. Not only do you want to prevent a defensive sting, but living wasps that escape may return with their friends.

Pour hot, soapy water into the funnel (the upside-down neck of the bottle) to make sure, or put a plastic bag over the trap and put it in the freezer for a few days.

Bury the dead wasps, or flush them down the toilet, as their bodies might release a chemical that alerts the rest of the colony to their fate.